Detachable pouring spout



April 29, 1952 A. R. BowMAN DETACHABLE POURING SPOUT Filed March 6, l1950 ARTHUR R. BOWMAN ATroRN EYS Patented Apr. Z9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE POURING sPoUT Arthur It. Bowman, Dayton, Ohio Application March 6, 195o, serial No. 147,878

per end thereof formed with a groove for receiving and retaining a complementary annular rib on the cover of the container.

Containers of this type are quite difficult to pour from with any degree of accuracy and smoothness, and in addition, it is virtually impossible to pour therefrom without having some of the contents ilow into the groove in the rim as well as drip down the side of the container. This is particularly undesirable in the case of paint cans, since such paint as remains in the groove in the rim tends to interfere with proper rescating of the cover and thus causes undesirable evaporation of the solvent within the container and waste of the paint. Furthermore, such pouring operations are often essential in the initial stirring of the paint, in order to pour off the separated solvent at the top of the can for gradual remixing, and the usual result is not only that the groove in the rim becomes filled with paint, but also that the side of the can is smeared with paint which dripped from the rim and is thu messy and sticky to handle.

The present invention provides a simple an convenient detachable pouring spout for paint cans and other containers of the above type which consists of only two component parts which can be quickly and easily slipped into place in the top of the upper container for pouring the contents thereof. This pouring spout is provided in the form of a simple blank capable of mass production by die stamping from heavy paper or the like and adapted to be cylindrically curved `for insertion within the rim of the container to form a spout. This blank has a plurality of holes punched therethrough along its lower edge, which may be readily pierced in the same die stamping operation which forms the outline of the blank, and a simple wire retainer is provided for attaching the blank to the container, the wire being formed with portions which extend through the holes in the blank and interlock with the rim of the container to hold= the spout in place.

This spout unit is accordingly simple to manufacture, requiring only a single stamping operation for the blank and a simple forming operation for the wire retainer. No reinforcing, binding or like operations are required for assembly of the unit, the retainer being secured toy the blank merely by slipping the wire thereof through the proper pierced holes in the blank. The device 4 Claims. (Cl. 222-570) may accordingly be. assembled before shipment, in which case the assembled units can be readily nested with each other, or the blanks can be packaged flat and assembled by the user in a few seconds. This extreme simplicity of manufacture and use can make the device economical for one-time use and disposal, and also recommends the device for advertising purposes, since the surface of the blank can be readily printed with desired advertising material.

It is accordingly one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a removable spout for use with paint cans and like containers having an annular rim within the upper end thereof which can be quickly and easily snapped into place and then removed, which will protect against spilling of the contents of the container along the rim or onA the sides of the container, and which is effectively and yieldably locked in place during use.

Another object is to provide such a spout wherein the main spout member is formed of a. simple blank of heavy paper or other suitable sheet stock and wherein the retainer for attaching the spout member to .the can is formed of a single wire secured to the spout member by insertion in holes which are readily pierced in the blank in the same die stamping operation by which the blank is formed from the sheet stock.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a removable spout formed of only two component parts, namely a spout member of paper or other sheet stock and a retainer of resilient wire, which are so constructed that they may be readily assembled beforelpacking and then packaged in nested relation or they may equally readily be packaged iiat before assembly and then assembled by the user or seller. v

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawingsy Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a paint can equipped with a removable pouring spout in accordance with the invention and illustrating the operation of the spout during pouring;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the blank which forms the spout member;

Fig. 3 is a detail View' of the resilient Wire retainer for the spout member;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the spout showing the wire retainer assembled with the blank;

Fig. 5 is a perspectivemview illustrating the operation of inserting of the spout in the container; and

Fig` 6 is a fragmentary section taken through the middle of the spout and the upper end of the container to show the operation of the retainer. i

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spout unit comprises a blank I of suitable sheet stock, which forms the spout member of the unit, and a resilient wire retainer II which operates to attach the spout member to the container with which it is to be used. This spout is particularly adapted for use on containers such as the can I2 shown in Figs. 1 and 6, which is provided in its open end with an annular rim I3 formed with an open groove or channel I5 for receiving an annular rib on the cover (not shown) for the can. Containers of this type are commonly used for paint as well as oils, Syrups and other liquids.

The blank I is shown in detail in Fig. 2 and is generally semicircular -in outline, having a straight side 28 and a curved peripheral portion 2|. A hole 22 is pierced through the blank adjacent each corner, and a pair of holes 23 is pierced near the center of the straight side 20. These holes 23 are connected by a out or slit 24, leaving tongue like portions adjoining this slit and between the holes 23. Satisfactory results have been obtained with the blank Hi formed of heavy paper such as kraft paper of reasonable stiffness or from light paper board,

and it` may be readily formed by a simple stamping operation with a die which includes punch portions for piercing the holes 22 and 23 and .cutting the slit 24.

The resilient wire retainer II is somewhat 'greater in length than the straight side 28 of the blank I0. At approximately its middle, the re tainer is formed with a forwardly or outwardly projecting loop portion 30, which is proportioned to be received within the holes 23 in blank li). Adjacent each end of the retainer, the wire is bent upwardly and rearwardly to provide handle portions 3l, and the upwardly extending portion of theV wire between the main body of the retainer and each handle portion 3I is formed into an inwardly extending loop 33 as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. These several loops 3Q and 33 are readily formed by a suitable die or the type commonly used for forming articles of wire and at relatively low cost.

I n assembling the spout for use, the ends of the retainer I I are first inserted in the holes 22 in the blank. The loop is then inserted through the slit 24 until the two ends of the loop are seated in the holes 23 as shown in Fig. 4, and in this portion of the parts, the tongues 25 will be received within the loop 3B to hold the blank and retainer in assembled relation. The spout unit may then be grasped by the handle portions 3| in the manner indicated in Fig. 5 and the re tainer compressed until it is of sumciently small diameter to be received within the rim i3. It is fitted in place by rst inserting its front end in the can until the loop 30 hooks under rim i3, and the rearward ends of the spout are then similarly set in place and the handle portions 3i released. Finally the front part of the spout shouldbe pulled up to the limit permited by engagement of loop 30 with rim I3 to assure proper positioning of the spout for pouring.

Fig. 6 shows the spout in operative position, i-t will be noted that the loop -36 engages the underside of rim I3 tc index the front of the spout in place and prevent accidental disp-lacement thereof. The natural resiliency of the retainer II forces the blank into close contact with the inner periphery of rim I3 to prevent leakage therebetween and thus to shield against dripping of paint into the groove I5. At the same time, the loops 33 fit around and resiliently grip the inner periphery of the rim to secure the device rmly in position preventing accidental displacement thereof. It will also be noted that when the contents of the can are being poured as shown in Fig. l, this locking action of the loops 33 holds the spout against pulling out of place under the angular stress imposed thereon by the weight of the liquid being poured. After use the device is released by simply compressing the handle portions 3! toward each other sufficiently to withdraw the spout from the can.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides an exceedingly simple and eiective pouring spout which is particularly suitable for use with the conventional type of paint can as well as with containers of similar construction for other liquids. The device is llight in weight and economical to produce in quantity, and since the blank lil is of substantial area, when it is made of paper it oifers useful space for advertising matter, such as by a paint or hardware store to advertise paint or other materials commonly sold in cans of the type with which the device is intended to be used. The device has the further advantage that it may be readily shipped either flat before assembly or assembledin nestedv re'- lation, whichever the purchaser desires, and since both the production and assembly costs are thus comparatively low, the device can be economically used as an advertising medium to be given away with each can of paint or the like. Still another advantage is that the device may be readily made in different sizes to lit containers vof different volumes, the device being identical in .a preferred embodiment of the inventionyit is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise article, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A. removable pouring spout for a container having an annular rim within the upper end thereof. comprising a blank of iiexible sheet material adapted to be cylindrically curved for insertion within said rim to form a spout, a resilient wire adapted to engage within said blank for jdeldably holding the same within said rim` said blank having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof for removably receiving the ends of said wire, said ends of said wire extending upwardly with respect to said holes to engage said rim, said wire having a forwardly projecting loop adjacent the center thereof adapted to extend through said blank to engage below said rim for indexing said blank with respect to said rim, said blank having a slit therethrough for removably receiving said loop following insertion of said ends of said wire through said holes to retain said blank and said wire in assembled relation; said upwardly projecting end portions of said wire including inwardly extending loops for gripping the inner edge of said rim to retain said wire and blank against upward or downward movement with respect to said rim, and said wire and said blank being proportioned for ready connection and disconnection byengagement and disengagement respectively of said wire in said holes and said slit to provide for ready use of said wire with a plurality of said blanks.

2. A removable pouring spout for a container having an annular rim within the upper end thereof, comprising a spout member of exble sheet material adapted to be cylindrically curved for insertion within said rim, a resilient wire adapted to engage within said spout member for yieldably holding said spout member within said rim, said spout member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof for removably receiving the ends of said wire, said ends of said wire extending upwardly with respect to said holes to engage said rim, said wire having a forwardly projecting loop adjacent the center thereof adapted to extend through said spout member to engage below said rim for indexing said spout member with respect to said rim, said spout member having a centrally located pair of closely spaced holes and a connecting slit therethrough for removably receiving said loop following insertion of said ends of said wire through said holes, and a portion of said blank intermediate said pair of holes and bordering said slit being adapted to engage within said loop to retain said spout member and said wire in assembled relation while providing .for ready removal of said wire from said spout member for attachment to another similar spout member.

3. A removable pouring spout for a container having an annular rim within the upper end thereof, comprising a spout member of flexible sheet material adapted to be cylindrically curved for insertion within said rim, a resilient wire for attaching said spout member to said rim, said spout member having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof for removably receiving the ends of said wire, said wire being adapted to fit within said curved spoutI member and having a forwardly projecting loop therein adjacent the center thereof, said spout member having a pair of holes and a connecting slit therein adjacent the center thereof for receiving said loop removably therethrough following insertion of said ends of said wire through said holes, the ends of said Wire being formed to extend through saidend holes in said spout member and to project upwardly with respect to the remainder of said wire, said upwardly projecting wire end portions including inwardly extending loops for gripping the inner edge of said rim when said wire and said spout member are compressed and inserted in said rim, and said center loop being of sufficient length to extend through said slit into engagement with the underside of said rim radially outwardly of said spout member to locate the center portion` of said spout member with respect to said rim in the operative position of said spout.

4. A removable.v pouring spout for a container having an annular rim within the upper end thereof, comprising a blank of flexible sheet material of approximately semicircular coniiguration adapted to be cylindrically curved for insertion within said rim to form a spout, said blank having a hole therethrough adjacent each end thereof and having also a pair of closely spaced holes adjacent the center of the straight side thereof connected by a slit, a resilient wire of generally semicircular outline adapted to engage within said spout for yieldably holding said spout within Said rim, the ends of said wire being removably receivable through said holes said wire having a forwardly projecting loop adjacent the center thereof adapted to extend through said slit to seat in said connected pair of holes for removably securing said wire to said spout, said loop being of suicient size to extend through said slit and to engage below said rim radially outwardly of said spout for indexing said spout with respect to said rim, the ends of said wire being extended upwardly beyond said end holes in said spout to provide handles for manipulation of said wire and saidspout, and said handle portions of said wire including inwardly extending loops for gripping the inner edge of said rim to lock said wire and spout yieldably within said rim.

ARTHUR R. BOWMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The' following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,617,273 Piquet Feb. 8, 1927 1,732,130 Lindahl' Oct. 15, 1929 1,952,288 Saxon Mar. 27, 1934 1,959,584 I-Iurley May 22, 1934 2,071,638 Lauterbach Feb. 23, 1937 2,331,971 Gramp Oct. 19, 19.43 

